Liquid power transmission device



June 28, 19380 w. G. WILSON 2,122,169

LIQUID POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 28, 1938. w. G. WILSON v LIQUID POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 28, was. 4 w. G. WILSON 2,122,169

LIQUID POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 28, 1938 UNHTED :2

In Great Britain 9 Claims.

' This invention relates to liquid power transmission devices of the kind in which the power input member and the power output member are preferably both concentric relatively to one another.

Such apparatus may be of the type comprising two half casings facing one another, one being driven by a motor and constituting a pump element and the other forming a turbine element carried on the shaft to be driven. A suitable liquid is circulated between and through radial passages from one member, through the other member and back'again after the manner of a Fottinger wheel so that a'closed liquid circuit is maintained. Such a closed liquid circuit may be said, when the device is in operation, to thus continuously extend through the driving part, the driven or load receiving part, and a reaction member after which the cycle is repeated, and

such radial passages Such a reaction member is included in the circuit when the device; is to be used as a torque converter.

In the following it 2 reaction member comprises a series of radial or substantially radial vanes mounted on a rotatory hub carried concentrically on the central axis of the torque converter, freely in one direction, but to remain stationary against a turning effort in the other direction.

In such a closed liquid circuit, the liquid on leaving the driving part or pump part under the influence of centrifugal force, passes into the driven or turbine member and on leaving the letter passes between theblades of the reaction member. It will be understood that the velocity. of the fluid when leaving the driven member will vary between wide limits depending upon changes of load, and the liquidwill leave the vaned recesses at-different angles in relation to the blades of the reaction member depending upon the speed and load. A similar result will occur as the liquid arrives back at the vaned recesses of the driving member. Such a result may lead to considerable disturbancein the circulation of the liquid due to the different angles of impingement of the liquid upon the vanes of the reaction member in the one case,-and the impingement of the liquid upon the vanes of the driving member in the other case.

One object of the invention to be hereinafter describedis to provide means whereby when the speeds of both members are approximately equal, only a minimum of resistance will be offered to the fiow of liquid from: one member to the other maybe curved or straight.

will be assumed that the and arranged to rotate September 14, 1935 of the relatively moving members, whilst for speeds above or below equality, appropriate guiding will be afforded for the flow of the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the disturbances in the liquid circuit above referred to, will be avoided and the liquid efiectively guided and controlled in passing from the driven member into the reaction member, and from the latter back into the driving member.

A further object of the invention is to introduce a similar control for the liquid at that partof the circuit where the liquid passes from the driving member into the vaned recesses of the driven member.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a half sectional elevation of a torque converter constructed according to. the invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing certain guiding vanes in a diiferent position.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line l-% of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the guide vanes in a different position.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of three of the guide vanes in Figure 4 drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure '7 is a similar view of three of the blades in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a view of a spring mounting for a guide vane.

Figure 9 shows a modification in which a single ring of guide vanes is employed.

In carrying the invention into effect according to a preferred embodiment, and referring more especially toFigure 1, a is the power input or driving shaft, secured to which is the hollow driving part b preferably formed in two parts connected together by bolts 0. The driven member 11 is nested as usual within the driving part b and is carried by an annular web e upon the power output or driven shaft 6. Between the two parts b and d is arranged a reaction member which is substantially of U-shaped form and has a sleeve portion g in concentric relation to the driven shaft e. One limb of the reaction member (the left hand in Figure '1) is as shown of longer radius than the other limb. The sleeve, gis extended beyond the driving casing b and its end is fitted with a one-way or free wheel clutch device it including a ring adapted to be held rigid by being secured to a stationary part i. The details of such a free wheel device are not shown, but-the device may be similar to that shown in the specification of my British Patent No. 391,822.

The liquid circuit as shown in Figure 1 is divided into five stages, viz. the vaned driving passage A; the vaned passage B in the driven member; the passage C of the reaction member; the straight or approximately straight radial part D leading from the exit of the reaction passage C to the driving part A; and E a straight radial part preferably parallel to D leading the liquid from the passage B 01 the driven member d to the inlet oi. the reaction passage C. It will be understood that the above detailed liquid circuit is only one of a series of the radial circuits provided all round inthe hollow casing forming the torque'converter; H

The part D is formed as an annular chamber 13' to one side of which is bolted a ring b by bolts b and the part E is also-formed as an annular chamber E to one side of which is bolted a ring I by means of bolts 1'. Arranged.in both'of these annular chambers D', E, there are a series .of freely pivoted vanes, those in D are designated by 2 while those in E- are denoted by m. According to the construction shown the vanes I and m, are arranged in three ranks, but it will be' understood that one rank or more may be provided if necessary.

All oi. these vanes are mounted on pivotal or trunnion pins 1;, supported at one end by the driving casing 12 or the reaction member I in the one case, and at the other end by the ring I or the ring I) as the case maybe. It will also be seen that the vanes Z are all carried by the driving part b and that all the vanes m are carried by the reaction member 1. Referring more particularly to Figures 6 and 7, these figures illustrate in" detail the manner of mounting the vanes. Each vane l or 1n. is fitted at one end with a trunnion pin and is of such a shape that its centre of mass is adjacent such trunnion and the whole is of aerofoil cross section. In each annular chamber D' or E the vanes are so disposed .edge, lies substantially in the flow direction of the liquid circuit which is clearly seen in Figures 2 to 5. The vanes form an easy fit between the side walls of the annular chambers D' or E and are supported by integral trunnion pins n. In the construction shown the vanes arefreely supported by means of the trunnion plus but stops are provided to limit the amount of pivotal movement. For this purpose each trunnion pin on one side is extended-beyond its journal bearing into a housing 11 formed conveniently in the ring ,1 and b' respectively by two intersecting drilled holes, and such projecting end carries a tail piece q preferably in alignment with the length of the associated vane. By forming the housing" 1) from two holes of different size, a pair of shoulders r opposite one another is provided and be tween which the tail piece or is adapted to swing, thereby constituting stops to permit-the tips of the vanes to move to a predetermined extent on each side of a normal radial line.

To co-act with the described pivoted vanes. th outlet ends of the various passages B in the driven member (1 are directionally vaned as shown at s. Figures 4 and 5, to form a series of tangential nozzles leading the liquid into the reaction member and such reaction member after the fluid leaves the vanes m is fitted with radial nozzles t which are preferably of the aerofoil section shown. In a similar way and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a series of tangential nozzles is provided at the outlet end of the reaction member, formed by the curved vanes u, so as to directionally guide the liquid. On returning to the driving element b, the liquid is received by radial nozzles 12.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, assuming that the driven member d is rotating rapidly in the direction of the arrow 10, the liquid will be flow- "ing slowly in the direction of the arrow at making a resultant flow in the direction of the arrow at in relation to the reaction member j, the vanes m assuming the position shown. When however the load is increased the velocity indicated by the arrow 10 decreases, but the velocity of flow of the liquid through the nozzles s increases, gradually reducing the angle of impingement in the direction of :cuntil it progressively approaches the position of arrow 1 Figure 5, the free wheel being locked. A similar adjustment of the vanes 1 shown in Figures 2- and 3 is effected at the other part of the circuit when the liquid passes from C back to A. Thus when the liquid velocity is low, Figure 2, the vanes I assume the position shown, but when it is high the vanes are swung over to the position shown in Figure 3.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the vanes l and m will assume a directional position depending upon the relative speeds that are operating, but should however the relative speed conditions change then the vanes will be automatically positioned to give the guidance desired, and assume the angle which is mostappropriate to the change in the working conditions. In this way therefore all disturbance of the liquid circuit will be'reduced to a minimum.-

When, and if desired, each of the vane pivots may be so formed however that they are biased to normally assume a radial or other desired position in relation-to the central axis. For example as shown in Figure 8 the trunnion pin 11 may be secured to one end of a coiled spring a, and the other end of the spring caused to abut upon one of the shoulders r. The action of such a spring mounting may tend to draw the associated vane into an approximately radial or other position so that the vane normally assumes thispredetermined position i a certain speed which is' speed conditions. Should however these conditions change, the changed angle of impingement space corresponding to .will act upon one side or the other side of the vanesso that they will be automatically adjusted against the action of their springs z to assume such an angle as is best suited to the change to afiord the necessary guidance to the liquid.

The invention is not necessarily limited to a triple bank of vanes, for instance a single bank of vanes may be used as shown in the fragmentry justment will interfere as little as possible with.

the flow of liquid that occurs between the banks of vanes or any two members of each set.

It is to be understood that the banks of vanes will be also under the influence of centrifugal 0st appropriate to the aieaiee action as well as under their springs and in determining the latter value, centrifugal action must be taken into account.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic power transmitting device comprising driving and driven elements, and a reaction element positioned between said driving and driven elements each of said elements being provided with a series of fixed vanes which form radial passages through which the liquid flows from one element to the other in a closed circult, the provision in the driving element, between the inlet end of of and the outlet end of the radial passages of the reaction element, of an annular space within which are positioned a series of freely pivoting vanes each of which is separately mounted in the side walls of the driving element so as to lie in the path of the liquid and is acted upon by said liquid independentlyv of the others, so that when a change of speed occurs between the driving and driven elements, the said pivotal vanes are automatically adjusted by a changing angle of impingement into such a position as will afford the most appropriate guidance "for the passage of liquid ifrom one element to the other.

2. A hydraulic power transmitting device as claimed in claim 1, in which an annular space is alsoprovided in the reaction element, between the inlet end of the radial passagesthereof and the outlet end of the radial passages of the driven element, a series of freely pivoting vanes being positioned within the said space, each vane being separately mounted in the side walls of the reaction member so as to lie in the path of the liquid and acted upon by said liquid independently of the others, so that when a change of speed occurs between the driving and driven elements, the said pivotal vanes are automatically adjusted by a changing angle of position as will afford the most appropriate guidance for the passage of the liquid from one element to the other.

the radial passages therewhich receives the flow from impingement into such a 3. A hydraulic power transmitting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the reaction membet is provided with a one-way clutch and is thereby capable of free movement in one direction, but remains stationary when a force is applied in the opposite direction. v

4. A hydraulic power transmitting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the freely pivoted blades have their centre of mass near their pivotal centres, and so arranged that the length of the blades from the pivot extends in the direction of flow of the liquid circuit.

5. A hydraulic power transmitting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the vanes are of aerofoil section.

6. A hydraulic power transmitting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which as the angle of impingementoi the liquid in leaving one rotating part changes, due to alterations in theload conditions, so the liquid acts upon one side or the other of the series of pivoted vanes to automati cally position them so that they afiord to the mov ing liquid the most appropriate guidance to minimize. disturbance in the liquid how.

3. A hydraulic torque converter as claimed in claim 1 in which, the reaction member is oi U shaped form, and in which one limb thereof is of longer radius than the other, i. e. the lirno the driven member.

8. A hydraulic power transmitting device as claimed in claim l, in which the series oi freely pivoted vanes are arranged in banks and are stag gored and so spaced apart that however they move they do not interfere substantially with the flow of liquid.

9. a hydraulic power transmitting device as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivoted vanes are fitted with a spring mounting to afiord bias or a limited amount of movement.

wanwnn GURDUN' on. 

